Roto Roof display for the Grand Designs Live Exhibition at Excel in London

Skylight or Rooflight?

What’s in a name? Well if you think of skylights or rooflights the chances are you think of the leading brand name

If, like me, you are guilty of that brand name thing of calling a vacuum cleaner a hoover (note the lower case ‘h’) then you will understand the problem that Jason and his team were up against at Grand Designs Live, at the Excel Centre in London this year, when they brought Roto Roof Windows to the show. Roto make roof windows, and in fact they make great windows, which are easier to fit than the main market leader but everyone knows the market leader, so Velux has become synonymous with the terms rooflight and skylight.

Roto Roof Windows at Grand Designs I was impressed with the stand – which was staffed by Roto Sales Technicians, not just salespeople but people who have have hands on experience and knowledge of fitting roof windows. They knew their product inside out and what was more they were enthusiastic about what they were selling in a genuine and non-pushy way.

I had the tour of the products on offer, they obviously have aluminium windows but they also have solid timber windows, and they have a new electronically controlled model which will surely be a bonus for anyone who lives in a barn of a place with high ceilings, and who don’t want to balance on a chair with a pole in their hand, to open the window. The windows are also fitted with rain sensors so they will close if it rains.

Even without the remote control opening gadget the opening system was easy to use and as it is a top third pivot window rather than cantilevered you really have a better window opening than the one offered by Velux.

There is a range of blinds available to customise your window to suit your interior decor too.

Roofers and Window Fitters Take Note

The fitting is actually simpler than the other manufacturer and the unit comes fitted with a vapour barrier rather than it being an extra item. You can also request a factory fitted insulation collar around the window to actually reduce U values.